An Altrincham-based construction company has been fined 拢165,000 after it repeatedly failed to put in place suitable fire precautions during a residential renovation in Preston.
Preston magistrates found Glovers Court Ltd guilty of four offences in relation to the redevelopment of a former city centre warehouse into 35 apartments spread across six floors. The Glovers Court project was under construction on 16th May 2023 when it was visited by Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service (LFRS). A number of fire safety issues were identified and LFRS prohibited the use of the building, meaning residents already living there had to leave their homes.聽
As construction work was still ongoing, LFRS and the Health & Safey Executive (HSE) worked in collaboration to deal with the premises.
An HSE inspector then visited the site finding the company not to be complying with its duty to ensure suitable fire safety precautions were in place during construction work. Those failures included:
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� no fire detection system
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� no means of raising the alarm in case of a fire
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� inadequate escape plans, and
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� construction work had not been phased to ensure fire compartmentation was maintained throughout the project to prevent fire spreading to all floors.
As a result, HSE served a prohibition notice against Glovers Court Ltd, stopping all further work on the property until adequate fire precautions were in place.聽 HSE also served an improvement notice requiring the company to design and implement a fire management plan.
However, during further visits in June and November 2023, HSE found construction work had continued while no action had been taken to comply with either of the notices.
HSE legislation requires a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment to be carried out by a responsible person. HSE guidance says, where necessary in the interests of the health or safety of a person on a construction site, suitable and sufficient fire-fighting equipment and fire detection and alarm systems must be provided and located in suitable places.
Glovers Court Ltd, of Kingsway, Altrincham, Cheshire, which has since gone into liquidation, was found guilty in its absence of three breaches of the Health & Safety at Work Act and the 91黑料网 (Design & Management) Regulations.
At Preston Magistrates鈥� Court on 26th June 2025 it was fined 拢165,000 and ordered to pay 拢10,512 in costs.
HSE inspector Christine McGlynn said 鈥淭his company showed a blatant disregard to both fire safety and the laws in place to protect both people and places.
鈥淓ach year there are estimated to be hundreds of fires on construction sites, potentially putting the lives of workers and members of the public at risk. Any outbreak of fire threatens the safety of those on site and is costly in terms of its damage and delay. Many can be avoided by careful planning and control of work activities.鈥�
A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service added: 鈥淭his prosecution highlights the positive outcomes multi agency working has for fire safety in Lancashire. It also highlights the critical importance property developers, owners and managers must give to fire safety. We welcome the court鈥檚 recognition of the seriousness of these breaches and hope this serves as a clear message to all about their legal and moral responsibilities.鈥�
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